On Demand
Mind Your B's and Q's
Monday, July 09, 2007
CEO and Executive Director of the MTA Lee Sander on the city's transportation building boom, security, and how congestion pricing could affect the system. Plus: your questions.
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Now that the city is enforcing strict noise restrictions, will the MTA finally fix the bus brakes so they don't painfully SCREECH? It's among the worst noises for the Manhattan pedestrian.
Thanks!
What is the working relationship between MTA and NJTransit? Is it changing; if so, how?
When a change is made to NJT, is the effect of that change (major frequent delays, degrading passenger experience, rate hikes, etc.) calculated in a scientific way using computer models to understand the effect on the MTA system, or the passenger system as a whole?
Does the MTA perceive itself in a cooperative partner with the NJT, PA etc. -- or a rival, in terms of Federal money payments/breaks, vendors, etc? And how does that play out for the passenger?
I applaud the MTA and MetroNorth's ban on drinking on the trains on St. Patrick's day. My question, however, is why isn't drinking banned on these trains EVERYDAY?
Anyone who regularly commutes can tell you that there is daily excessive drinking on the trains by actual "regulars." Specifically, I can recall an incident with a disgruntled, very rude passenger who was verbally insulting everyone in sight. When he finally got off on his stop in northern Westchester the conductor apologized and actually stated that he's ALWAYS like that. I guess I understand that the conductor was uncomfortable/intimidated to reprimand the intoxicated passenger (who was a large construction worker), but I find it unacceptable that drinking is allowed in the first place.
Can you imagine what the subway system would look like if drinking was allowed there? It's not fair that commuters like myself are subject to such conditions.
Yesterday it took me 2 hours to get from 200th St. & broadway to union square Why?
This is intolerable.
it took me 2 hours Yesterday to get from 200th and Broadway to Union Square
why
this is intolerable
My household includes a person in an electric wheelchair who cannot travel public transportation. We have a wheelchair van. We often travel from lower Manhattan to Brooklyn and back in the course of a day. Would congestion pricing be applied to us? I emailed this question in a previous show and never got a reply.
This reminds me of Robert moses the guy who built the roads with low overpasses so buses couldn't go on them keeping out the poor/minorities from certain areas. I like how the toll starts right at 86, keeping out tons of minorities from the north. I went to a beach that cost 15 $ to get in (jones beach) and it was all white and no minorities. Congestion pricing is just another way to shaft the poor people. Why not lower MTA costs if they implement this because 50% more people will have to take the mta now. Ever take the train at 6pm? It is hell, this city is poorly run, and caters to rich and pisses on the poor. When will we revolt?
Regarding Bloomberg's experiences on the "Lex": I'm sure Mayor Billionaire has a nice security detail when he travels to ensure that he never has to rub elbows with any of the New Yorkers he so clearly looks down upon.
1--Isn't this really money to set up a surveillance system related to security? Why aren't we hitting up security funds for this?
2--Why aren't suggestions like giving tax breaks and other incentives to companies to set their employees up to work at home being considered?
3--The funds mostly will be collected by the people who need most to get in and out of the city from the boroughs. They/we will be most inconvenienced by the throngs of new riders, and paying the bill at the same time. Find a way to charge heavily those who use automobiles within the city for which there is no excuse.
Mayor Bloomberg today at the congestion pricing rally:
"...We have traffic holding back business..."
Mayor Bloomberg on August 2, 2006:
"We like traffic, it means economic activity, it means people coming here."
What about those 1000 cameras and privacy.I don't trust them at all and the Mayor has already violated New Yorkers civil liberties.
What about the money surplus we are suppose to have going into improving subways first.
In 1988 I took the metro in communist and certainly not as advanced technologically Moscow and Leningrad in the old USSR. In both subway stations there were clocks with the arrival time of the next train basically so people would relax (I assume). London, DC, SF have this wonderful device. It is 2007 and the NY Subway system is still absent this simple little device. Why?
In addition. I just moved up to Inwood from the upper westside low 100's. I noticed the stops after 150th street especially those above 181th haven't seen a can of paint or renovation in what appears to be decades. At Dykman and the 207th street stations the rot from rust is becomming a safety issue. Has the MTA forgotten lower middle class upper Manhattan? All station stops are not equal?
I applaud the Mayor and MTA for their efforts to institute congestion pricing.
Those who drive into lower Manhattan during work hours use a greater proportion of resources and increase the amount of road maintenance required. These people should not be subsidized by the rest of us who do not drive cars.
I would suggest that we also begin to eliminate free parking spaces to make room for more bike lanes. I see far too many out of state license plates on the UES parked on the streets day after day. These people are getting a free ride and should be required to pay for parking.
Also, if you don't like the subway, ride a bike to work. It's good for you and it's the fastest way to get to work. I started doing it this last month and it's been great!!
As far as I'm concerned, you cannot do enough to reduce the number of cars in Manhattan. Keep at it!!!
if they do implement this, it should only be during work hours... if anything. i hate the mta. buses drive right by you, they come far few in between, the trains take forever, they are usually packed . they charge so much to get on them, there is mind numbing ads plastered all over the subway. how much more money do they need to give us shitty service, on hot cars, full of garbage... Why dont they use the money to clean the damn systemn, make it user friendly and add more service? i think it all goes in the mta top few peoples pockets so they can take 5 cars to the office. I doubt any top mta employees take the mta cause its horrible. Can i curse here? F the MTA! ok, i think im done, thanks for great radio Lehrer!!!
When will the subways join MetroNorth, LIRR, Boston, Chicago and DC – to name a few – in having recycling bins on its platforms and in its stations?
Why is the guideline or "rule" about exiting busses through the back door so poorly enforced?
Requiring people (except maybe the elderly) to exit through the rear door would make busses run much faster.
Platform edge doors
The rest of the world can do it why can't we?
Any chance of using some of the money from congestion pricing for projects like vision42 (east-west light rail), or adding lightrail service to areas of the city that are under served (redhook, freshmeadow etc).
I live inside the congestion zone. I don't have a car, but I have a motorcycle.
* How will people be billed when they LIVE in the zone? Will we be billed anytime we go anywhere (during those hours)?
* I ride a small motorcycle that gets over 50 mpg! Will I be billed the same as someone driving a hummer?!
Thanks, love the show.
-Carl
Any chance of bringing in a service like LA's Metro Rapid? That is buses which stop every half-mile to a mile instead of the every two blocks the local city buses serve.
I ride the 20 bus nearly every morning to work. Almost without exception, tourists get on the bus not knowing that they need either $2 in change or a Metro Card. Are you considering installing fare machines that will accept bills? Would you consider installing Metro Card dispensers at bus stops? or in hotel lobbies?
While congestion pricing might ease traffic into Manhattan, what about public transit to airports?
I look at a subway map and simply do not understand why the N,R,Q,W does not extend to LaGuardia.
How does the 7 line extension rank ahead of it?
I have no problem with security cams being placed ALL over, but, it should ALL be PUBLIC. If THEY get to watch us, I want to watch THEM too! Its like google streets. Cameras dont do much to deter bad things anyways, most of the time the people watching them aren't very smart, or they arent being watched at all... make it a public system, it will help us know when the gosh darn trains coming.
BTW, cameras dont stop people from blowing up. Know how i know? i watch tons of porn.
What plans does MTA have for increase underutilized river transport.It seems to offer a timely solution to the East Side Congestion with a Minimal Infrastruction rebuild
One of the worst aspects of subway riding is people who stand squarely in the doorways, and don't move in or out to let riders enter or exit. Why isn't this regulated as a violation just like drinking or moving between cars? It's a chronic and severe problem.
I am in favor of the congestion pricing plan only if expanded express bus service from
south jamaica (QM21) starts earlier, perhaps at 5:30A. This would save me from dealing with the dirty early morning subway and allow me to leave my car home while still arriving on the job at 7A. Most people want a civilized commute and at this point, I am really tired of the homebound crush hour.
Here's an idea to get the trains moving more quickly -- post notices right on the outside of the doors of each car that remind riders to *let people off first* before they mash themselves on the train.
What about commuting from Rockland County? Public transportation from here is a nightmare. I can take a bus which would take forever. Train-wise, I could take a train from here to hoboken to the path and then to a subway (drive +3 trains), or drive to westchester, metro north to grand central, then a subway... but to do many of these things, I have to drive, pay for parking, maybe a bridge, then pay metro north, then pay a subway. That takes forever plus costs a fortune. I'd LOVE to take public transportation, but how can I? I'm a starving grad student (NYU), and don't have the money for increased transportation costs. Also, I come into NYC for arts events and other cultural events, and increased costs for transportation makes that even more difficult, too.
Re : Shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square.
Since this shuttle only runs between 2 stations, why is it always overcrowded and behind schedule? There should always be a train in the station ready to go. There are times that you can sit waiting for 15-20 minutes.. Why is this? It would really make a big difference to the commuters if the shuttle would be more efficient!
There are no schedule/route diagram boxes whatsoever in Far Rockaway and Averne
Have the trains that run in Brooklyn been forgotten? The G train is one the slowest trains in New York, often leaving people who depend on it waiting for up to half an hour or more on evenings and weekends. More and more people are moving to Brooklyn due to soaring housing costs in Manhattan....The G should not be forgotten!
As a side note, the G and A tend to be the oldest, dirtiest trains in New York...any reason why some train lines are newer than others?
Re: Time signage at bus stops. While the busses in Manhattan are frequent and so, their time isnot significant, in the outer boroughs the times can be rather infequent (20-35 minutes between busses). Brian was correct that that the times are accurate - but can we get copies (.PDFs) of the specific times at specific stops via the Internet?
What about those new Hybrid buses? Fewer seats and steps which are difficult to see. Dangerous for young and old alike.
I support congestion pricing as long as it is fair. Who will assure that there will be no exemptions for federal, state, local employees and that they will not be reimbursed with tax dollars? There should be an online listing by name of every person granted an exemption and the date that exemption will end.
I just rode the L train sitting beside someone who had one of those cell phone/mp3 players. She was listening to the music from the cell phone without headphones. Is there any way to enforce the "no radio playing rule" on the subways? Maybe an Ad campaign to that says hearing other people's music on the subway is annoying to other riders? They have ads like this on the subway in Japan and their subway riders are very quiet.
Is it possible to treat the subway lines like the building of a new football stadium? You could give exclusive ad rights for a certain number of years to corporations with the highest bid on individual lines leaving a percentage of inside ad space for non-profit. This could help with keeping fares steady and with the cost of maintenance of the subway.
The reason so many people use the front door to exit, is because:
1) SO many people use the front door to exit! It moves faster.
and
2) the driver so often forgets to unlock the back doors, and doesn't hear people yelling "Door, please!", so most people just give up after a while and make a habit of using the front door.
and
3)too many people don't know how to use the yellow tape on the back doors in order to make them open pneumatically -- especially old people, who think they have to use all their body weight to push them open, and would prefer not to. Educate people!
I'm really upset to hear Lee Sander patting himself and the MTA on the back for the state of mass transit in the city. I concede that the infrastructure is old and presents a lot of difficult challenges. But the only emotion the leadership of the MTA should be expressing is embarrassment. The overcrowding, the discomfort, the dysfunction of the system is absolutely inconceivable. The New York transit system -- especially the subway -- compares disfavorably to every other system in the world. It's overpriced, undependable, dirty, dehumanizing, and for the old and infirm, absolutely impossible to negotiate. I have to shake my head in disbelief when I hear Mr. Sanders say that he has never even considered the problem of the screeching trains. Amazing. I wonder if the transit authority members have ever traveled to another city. What else could explain their lack of perspective on the disgraceful state of the New York subway system? I agree with Mr. Sanders that the subway is much better than it was in the early 80s. But compared to 10 years ago, it's been in steady decline. Any argument to the contrary is just spin.
To Lee Sanders,
The number 2 and 5 trains do not have adequate cooling in the summer or adequate heating in the winter. I have compare the 2 and 5 trains to the N and R trains. Your engineers need to look into to this problem.
The parting comment from Lee Sander was absurd. MTA employees are by far the most collectively miserable workforce I've ever seen. Toll-takers and sanitation workers are, by far, a cheerier bunch. Subway workers, in my experience, are generally disdainful, unhelpful and apathetic. Maybe it's not their fault, but if they love their jobs, they certainly don't show it. This guy, Lee Sander, is kidding himself.
Roosevelt Island is a Planned Community which is experiencing the development of 9 buildings in the planned Southtown development, the building of Octagon apartments, unplanned and the possible development of Goldwater Hospital (in 10-12 years). We have only the F train (and the Tram) as our way on and off the Island. When it arrives at rush hour in the mornings riders on our platform to Manhattan are required to wait for between 3-5 trains before they're able to get on to go to work. Under our Southpoint Park the E-V line could be made available as it has surface acces id the MTA would build it. We also have the N/R running under RI w/o surface access. Will the MTA look into openign up either or both of these lines to aid us as our currently 12K population grows to 16K or more with the coming known and possible unknown/unplanned development?
Brian, Thanks for your work - it's a wonderful show. July 16 is not a real application deadline for federal funds, according to Mr. Sander, but a political contrivance, a wish from the Bush Administration in order to announce something which makes the Administration appear urban-friendly. Mayor Bloomberg is trying to urge this very large project through the Albany legislature without proper backup work. Millions of people will be affected by this "give-us-th-money-now, we'll figure it out later" approach, particularly to congestion pricing. The screeners for this show seemed to to take callers only with specific questions and by-passed the conceptual questions. Mr. Sander has an encyclopedic knowledge of the subway system, as he shoul, but the head of the MTA should be asked why New York commuters should have to jump to the political agenda in Washington when it comes to funding public transportation.
The A train is already full by 181st Street during rush hour (and there is talk of bussing commuters to 207th Street.)
Before there can be any talk of congestion pricing, there has to be residential parking permits (the like of which have existed in London for years.) The danger is that North of 96th Street will become a giant car park. There will be no more (affordable or not) housing built, there will just be tons of multi-story car parks.
Having lived in London and visited post Congestion charge, the differece is striking - better air, less noise etc. and the buses move much faster.
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